26 Serb returnees have been
waiting for several days to be allowed to return to their homes in Klina
town

National day of Republic of Albania is
celebrated
by Kosovo Albanians
as a day of pan-Albanian territorial unification.
Photo showing a group of youg Kosovo Albanians
with flags of Republic
of Albania in Pristina (Civpol archive photo)

CONTENTS:

Editorial:

Flag Day - symbol of
pan-Albanian expansionism and not a way towards
democracyOne thing is quite evident. The present
Kosovo Albanian political elite is not leading Kosovo Province towards the
21st century, integrated and multiethnic Europe, but to the anachronistic
ideals of the 19th century romantic nationalism. Today, streets of Kosovo
cities will be decorated with flags of a foreign state, Republic of
Albania. Serbs and other non-Albanians cannot even dream of allowing
themselves such displays of patriotism although Kosovo Province
officially, according to the UN SC resolution 1244 is not a province of
Albania but of Serbia-Montenegro.

26 Serb returnees
wait to be allowed to return to their homes in Klina
town"Kosovo Albanian leaders and
UNMIK representatives constantly claim that all returnees may freely
return to their homes. Therefore this is a good opportunity to follow the
words with action and demonstrate sincere readiness of the local municipal
structures to receive Serb returnees to Klina", said Bishop Artemije for
the ERP KiM Info-Service. "I strongly appeal on UNMIK and KFOR to support return of
Klina Serbs to their homes and create conditions for their safe and
dignified life", added the Bishop. Vandals target Serb
Orthodox church in KosovoSerbian Orthodox
Church in Gornja Brnjica near Pristina robbed. Serbian Orthodox Diocese for
Kosovo and Metohija expressed serious concern because of continuation of
vandalism against Christian holy sites in Kosovo Province.
Serbs in Obilic evicted from
their apartments465 out of 5.000
Serbs who lived in Obilic prior to the conflict are in danger of losing
their apartments

Threatening letters against Western diplomatic offices in
KosovoOn
Thursday, UNMIK Police has confirmed that UN in New York has received
several threatening letters for possible attacks against diplomatic
offices of several western countries in Pristina. For this reason
security measures have been increased on the streets of the capital of
Kosovo.

Crime
threatens Courts, Prosecutors and Police in Kosovo says "Kosova Sot"
Courts, Prosecutors and Police in Kosovo say that they are working
under threat of criminal elements and on conducting of their duties they
are facing the danger of losing their lives. Courts and Prosecutors report
for attacks and threats of their personnel. Also UNMIK
Police Spokesperson, Michael Kreuzpainter said that it is not easy to work
as a policeman in Kosovo. "Sometimes it is very dangerous to work as
policeman_ You always have the feeling that you are under threat and that
your life could end," he said. More News Available on our:Kosovo Daily News
list (KDN)KDN
Archive

"Flag Day" a symbol of pan-Albanian expansionism and
not a way towards democratic societyOne thing is
quite evident. The present Kosovo Albanian political elite is not leading
Kosovo Province towards the 21st century, integrated and multiethnic
Europe, but to the anachronistic ideals of the 19th century romantic
nationalism. Today, streets of Kosovo cities will be decorated with flags
of a foreign state, Republic of Albania. Serbs and other non-Albanians
cannot even dream of allowing themselves such displays of patriotism
although Kosovo Province officially, according to the UN SC resolution
1244 is not a province of Albania but of
Serbia-Montenegro.

"Formal recognition of Kosovo independence
will bring peace to all Albanians, stated Kosovo president Ibrahim Rugova,
addressing the Kosovo Albanian citizens, in light of the 28 th of
November, the Albanian Flag Day, the national holiday of Republic of
Albania. As usual Mr. Rugova did not speculate what kind of peace his
"independent Kosovo" will bring to other ethnicities in the Province.

On this day, back in 1912, the
Albanian flag was raised in Vlora (Valona), that way symbolically
proclaiming Albania , independent. Since then this holiday has become a
focus of pan-Albanian idea that all ethnic Albanians should live in one
political entity and under one flag. Adding so much importance to the
"Flag day" in Kosovo is definitely not a coincidence but a clear
expression of pan-Albanianism under which there will be no place for other
ethnic groups.

Kosovo Prime minister Bajram Rexhepi, former
member of the KLA and a close associate of Hashim Thaci, reminded that the
28 th of November has one more special meaning for Kosovo by pointing that
Adem Jashari, one of the founders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was
born on this day. For Mr. Rexhepi and his party this day is the day of
glorification of the KLA, organization responsible for numerous war and
post-war crimes against innocent Serb and moderate Albanian residents of
the province.

These statements of the leading Kosovo
Albanian politicians are in complete discrepancy with their often repeated
phrases that their goal is building a modern, multiethnic and European
society in which all residents regardless of their ethnicity and religions
will be treated equally. Furthermore, celebration of the Flag day and the
statements alluding to Kosovo as a part of Greater Albania (or Albania as
a part of Greater Kosovo) can hardly encourage Serb and non-Albanian
residents of the UN administered Province to expect better future. The
Flag day has always been an opportunity to see the true goal of Kosovo
Albanian leaders and that is building not only of a second ethnic Albanian
state in the Balkans (independent Kosovo) but unification of all ethnic
Albanians and the territories on which they live under one flag and one
ethnic idea. Whether that would be called Greater Albania or Greater
Kosovo or whatever does not seem to be important for the time being. For
Mr. Rugova and Mr. Rexhepi other ethnicities do not seem to exist, anyway.

One thing is quite evident. The present
Kosovo Albanian political elite is not leading Kosovo Province towards the
21st century and integrated and multiethnic Europe but to the
anachronistic ideals of the 19th century romantic nationalism. Today,
streets of Kosovo cities will be decorated with flags of a foreign state,
Republic of Albania. Serbs and other non-Albanians cannot even dream of
allowing themselves such displays of patriotism although Kosovo Province
officially, according to the UN SC resolution 1244 is not a province of
Albania but of Serbia-Montenegro.

Will UNMIK react to this open display of
Albanian nationalism and glorification of KLA extremism? Probably not (as
usual). UNMIK HQ and the Western diplomatic missions have already been
secured by armored vehicles and their personnel has already been advised
to avoid traveling around the Province today.

Again, one can clearly see that the wrong
and ethnically biased UNMIK policy in Kosovo is pushing the Province not
towards a multiethnic and democratic society compatible with European and
Western values but towards the tribal society of the 19th century. The
Flag day is not a holiday of all Kosovo residents but of exclusively one
ethnic group the leaders of which want to create their ow nation state
taylored for ethinc Albanians only. Others, of course, might be tolerated
only as second-rate citizens which will make a false impression of
non-existent multiethnicity and democracy but will sooner or later
disappear or be assimilated as other non-Albanian ethnic groups in the
neighboring Albania.

One can hope that today's festivities will
pass without blood because on previous occasions the Flag day was an
opportunity for pogroms against unprotected non-Albanian civilians who
will remain today bunkered in their isolated homes and enclaves. Serbs can
never forget the cold blooded murder of Prof. Basic, a Berkley professor,
and his family on Flag day in 1999. Although educated in U.S. and ready to
give his contribution to building of Kosovo's democracy professor Basic
was killed in the street by a cheering crowd only because he was not an
ethnic Albanian.

The Flag day mania is definitely not a way
towards reconciliation and better future. It will only make the ethnic
rifts even deeper and more painful. In fact tolerating Albanian
nationalism on one hand and sanctioning other nationalisms on the other
will only encourage extremists in other Balkan states who will see that
violence, terrorism and force may after all be the best profitable way to
realize their anachronistic dreams of ethnically clean territories. Such
ideas which are regrettably benevolently tolerated by UNMIK in Kosovo will
plunge the Balkans into new wars sooner or later if they are not
eradicated in time. The same standards must be applied to all equeally
otherwise the ethnically biased policy of the UN Mission will only grow
seeds of new problems for the Balkans and Europe.

symbol of power and
excluding "others"

"And
for what does the Albanian flag stand? Is it a symbol to you of
power? Or is it, instead, a symbol of higher values? Does it
represent the goals, the dreams, of a people struggling for
something better in their communal life? Or does it represent a
means for excluding "others," for building barriers that separate
rather than unite?

...You are celebrating
the unity of the Albanian people under the symbol of a flag. Our
hope, however, is that you will one day soon celebrate the unity of
the people of Kosovo, the unity of everyone who lives in Kosovo,
whatever their language or ethnic community, whatever their religion
or political beliefs. Our dream for you is that you will one day
soon celebrate the unity of Kosovars united in working together to
make Kosovo a society for which all its members can be
thankful.

Reno
HarnishChief of the U.S. Office in Kosovo
on occasion
of the Flag day celebration in 2002

"Kosovo Albanian leaders and
UNMIK representatives constantly claim that all returnees may freely
return to their homes. Therefore this is a good opportunity to follow the
words with action and demonstrate sincere readiness of the local municipal
structures to receive Serb returnees to Klina", said Bishop Artemije for
the ERP KiM Info-Service. "I strongly appeal on UNMIK
and KFOR to support
return of Klina Serbs to their homes and create conditions for their safe
and dignified life", added the Bishop.

St. Mark's Serbian Orthodox church in Klina destroyed
by Kosovo
Albanian extremists in b summer 1999

Representatives of 26 Serbian families who fled their homes in
Klina, 50 km west of Pristina, in summer 1999 returned to Kosovo and
Metohija with intention to stay in their homes. In the group there are 24
men and two women who arrived on November 22 to the Patriarchate of Pec
monastery and at the moment are temporarily accommodated in the nearby
Serb enclave-village of Bica near Klina.

Yesterday and today the returnees had meetings with the local UNMIK
and KFOR representatives in order to find the best way how to organize
their safe return to their homes in Klina town. According to Marko
Nedeljkovic, one of the Serb returnees, all Serbs in the group have
strongly decided not to leave Kosovo and Metohija any more. They made it
clear that they will keep insisting on the international representatives
to let them realize their elementary human right - to return to their
homes and bring their families soon.

UNMIK representatives were taken by surprise with this request and
reportedly tried to dissuade the returnees to go back to central Serbia
until proper conditions are created for their sustainable return. The
situation in the Klina area is still tense and unstable, they explained.
However, the Serbs refused this proposal and understood it as an excuse to
prolong the return process.

Bishop Artemije and the SNC gave support to the returnees

Bishop of Raska-Prizren and Kosovo-Metohija Artemije
(Radosavljevic) talked this morning with the returnees and gave them full
support in the name of the Church and the Serbian National Council of
Kosovo-Metohija saying that the return to their homes is their legitimate
and undeniable right. "Kosovo Albanian leaders and UNMIK representatives
constantly claim that all returnees may freely return to their homes.
Therefore this is a good opportunity to follow the words with action and
demonstrate sincere readiness of the local municipal structures to receive
Serb returnees to Klina", said Bishop Artemije for the ERP KiM
Info-Service. "I strongly appeal on UNMIK and KFOR to support return of
Klina Serbs to their homes and create conditions for their safe and
dignified life", added the Bishop.

Declarative appeals on expelled Kosovo Serbs to return with
systematic creation of all kinds of obstructions for the return process
has become a commons strategy of some Kosovo Albanian leaders who intend
to prevent return of displaced Serbs to their homes, it is said in today's
communique of the SNC KIM. Regrettably, even among some UNMIK and KFOR
structures there are certain obstructions for the collective returns
because that might give additional obligation to the dwindling
international personnel in Kosovo. It is unacceptable that the lack of
money for their returns is mentioned as a reason for passivity. When
thousands of Kosovo Albanians returned to Kosovo in 1999 that process did
not last more than a month. However for Serbs totally different rules seem
to exist. Out of 250.000 Serbs who fled the Province only several hundreds
have returned in the last few years which is the most vivid example of
double standards, it is concluded in the SNC KiM communique.

Two weeks ago a go-and-see visit of a group of displaced Serbs to
their ruined homes in Musutiste village near Suva Reka resulted with an
incident. Local Albanians stoned the UNHCR bus and said that they would
never allow their return. Similar extremist rallies were organized against
the return of Serbs to the village of Bica near Klina last year.

Nenad Radosavljevic: This is an exam for all of
us!

ERP KiM Info-service has just received a statement of Mr. Nenad
Radosavljevic, a special adviser to the UNMIK chief for returns and
displaced persons. The statement was given to Zoran Culafic from UNMIK
Radio:

"26 families, 26 honest and serious men and women are at the moment
in a common room in Bica village waiting for our support and assistance to
return to their homes in Klina town. Two days ago they made a solemn oath
in the monastery of Pec Patriarchate that they would stay in Kosovo and
Metohija and would not return to collective centers and refugee camps in
central Serbia. Their basic and undeniable human right is to get in
possession of their own private property.

KFOR is obliged to protect them from possible attack of extremist
individuals and Italian soldiers are ready and decisive to perform their
duty. I have personally seen that they are ready to help.

This case is an exam for all other participants and factors in the
return process to Kosovo and Metohija. In this case we will see who is a
true supporter and who obstructer of the return.

When Kosovo Albanian villagers of Gornja Bitinja, near Strpce,
wanted to return to their part of the village six months ago in a similar
way I received calls from the chief of the U.S. Office, director of the
PRM Foundation, directors of the ORC, UNHCR and OSCE to assist in
resolving a problem between the returnees and the Serbs who live in other
part of the village. I readily did this and we succeeded.

Now I expect from these same organizations and institutions to do
the same and appeal on Mr. Thaci, Mr. Rugova and Mr. Rexhepi to
practically confirm their so many times repeated declarative statements in
support of Serb returns.

I also call and
appeal all international organizations, NGO's and others to do their part
of job and offer urgent assistance to the returnees", said Mr. Nenad
Radosavljevic.

Serbian Orthodox
Church in Gornja Brnjica near Pristina robbed. Serbian Orthodox
Diocese for Kosovo and Metohija expressed serious concern because of
continuation of vandalism against Christian holy sites in Kosovo Province.

GORNJA BRNJICA - Parish priest Father Miroslav Popadic
confirmed that unknown persons robbed the church in the village of Gornja
Brnjica about ten kilometers north of Pristina.

The thieves
entered the church last night through the belfry, climbing down the rope
of the church bell. After the robbery they smashed the main doors in order
to get out of the church, said Father Miroslav. The incident has been
reported to the Kosovo Police Service, which completed an investigative
report. Investigation is in progress.

This latest incident follows a similar attack on the St. Dimitrije
Church in Susica near Gracanica a few days ago when unknown persons again
damaged the fence around the church and sprayed the church walls with
ethnic Albanian slogans.

Serbian Orthodox
Diocese for Kosovo and Metohija expressed serious concern because of
continuation of vandalism against Christian holy sites in Kosovo
Province.

Representatives of the
Obilic Municipality Directorate for Housing and Property Issues tried to
extort Serb-owned flats in downtown Obilic, central Kosovo-Metohija,
having ordered the owners to leave them by 13th December, the coordinator
of the Coordination Center for Kosovo-Metohija in that municipality,
Milenko Andric, confirmed to Tanjug (Agency, Belgrade).

We had a
heated discussion with Directorate representatives on Wednesday, after
which we presented them with copies of contracts showing that the flats in
downtown Obilic are owned by Serbs who still live in them, Andric said. He
assessed that at issue is pressure by Kosmet Albanian municipal structures
which claim without any proof that the flats in which Serbs in Obilic live
are owned by the municipality. Of the 5,000 Serbs living in Obilic before
the war, only 465 have remained, and they are mostly elderly
people.TOP

On Thursday, UNMIK Police has confirmed that UN
in New York has received several threatening letters for possible attacks
against diplomatic offices of several western countries in Pristina. For
this reason security measures have been increased on the streets of the
capital of Kosovo.

Radio Television
Kosovo
November 27, 2003

Pristina, 27 Nov (RTK) – On Thursday, UNMIK Police has confirmed that UN in New York has received
several threatening letters for possible attacks against diplomatic
offices of several western countries in Pristina. For this reason security
measures have been increased on the streets of the capital of Kosovo.

"Based on information received by UN headquarters in New York,
KFOR and the police have increased patrols. This is due to a general
threat against foreign governments and police buildings in Pristina", said
the UNMIK police representative Angela Joseph.

In the threatening
letter is said that the attack will happen within 72 hours. The police say
that the increased security measures will last until December 01.

The UNMIK chief Harri Holkeri also says that the security measures
have been increased. "We have increased the security measures not because
of rumors but because we are responsible to do this in any case and every
day ", said Holkeri.

According to the UNMIK police, they are
analyzing these threats very seriously. There is not any information who
is behind these threats.

Courts, Prosecutors and Police in Kosovo say
that they are working under threat of criminal elements and on conducting
of their duties they are facing the danger of losing their lives. Courts
and Prosecutors report for attacks and threats of their personnel. Also UNMIK Police Spokesperson, Michael Kreuzpainter said
that it is not easy to work as a policeman in Kosovo. "Sometimes it is
very dangerous to work as policeman_ You always have the feeling that you
are under threat and that your life could end," he said.

Courts, Prosecutors and Police in Kosovo say
that they are working under threat of criminal elements and on conducting
of their duties they are facing the danger of losing their lives. Courts
and Prosecutors report for attacks and threats of their personnel. Justice
and law institutions in Kosovo said that such situation upsets them. On
Wednesday, the President of the Circuit Court in Pristina, Anton Nokaj
said that there is no security for people that deal with justice in
Kosovo. "There are threats and the danger is very great," said Nokaj. He
declared that pressures and threats for justice organs don't come from any
political structure but from "criminal elements." Nokaj called Kosova
residents to cooperate with police and courts on the war against the
crime, but in the same time he accused the investigation organs for lack
of cooperation.

President of Circuit Prosecution in
Pristina, Osman Kryeziu said that the threats are so frequent, "such
people come to our offices and threaten us." "With the fact that we
conduct this duty, we are jeopardized. We need more security," said
Kryeziu.

Also UNMIK Police Spokesperson, Michael
Kreuzpainter said that it is not easy to work as a policeman in Kosovo. "Sometimes it is very dangerous to work as policeman_ You always have the
feeling that you are under threat and that your life could end," he said.

According to information, the most often
attacks and threats were addressed against KPS members. Also UNMIK Police
called the residents to cooperate more with the Police.

ERP KIM Info-Service is the official Information Service of the
Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Raska and Prizren and works with the blessing
of His Grace Bishop Artemije.
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Information Service is distributing news on Kosovo related issues. The
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do not necessarily represent the views of the Serbian Orthodox
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